To-Do List: Afghanistan Fallout; Gas Prices Hurting Obama

To know: The murder of sixteen Afghan civilians by an American soldier could imperil U.S. efforts to negotiate with the Taliban … Rising gas prices are hurting President Obama’s poll numbers … The Syrian government and rebels are blaming each other for the apparent death of as many as forty-five people … In a new memo, Rick Santorum’s campaign argues that while he probably can’t win a majority of delegates during primaries, he can win at the Republican Convention … Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim is financing an Internet television network that will feature Larry King.

To read:Politico’s Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman report that members of Congress retiring this year are feeling the pull of lobbying jobs:

This year, there’s a noticeable cultural shift afoot: Some retiring members of Congress are openly talking about life downtown and beyond with months in office still ahead of them. It’s an awkward position for lame-duck members as they continue to help craft legislation and take votes that could present a conflict of interest, or at least perceived conflict, as they consider their next employer.

It’s a reminder that for all the anti-lobbyist talk on the campaign trail this year and President Barack Obama’s attempt to squeeze influencers out the system, the fear of being branded with the scarlet “L” hasn’t been enough to throw a roadblock in the well-trod path from the Capitol to K Street.

The New Republic has a collection of essays from its contributors, all on the subject of what President Obama should do in his second term, should he win one.

To check out: All this week, Garry Trudeau’s comic strip “Doonesbury” is taking a frank look at laws that mandate that women have ultrasounds before they can obtain an abortion; as a result, many local papers are pulling the strip for the week. The offending cartoons can be read online, however.

Alex Koppelman was a politics editor for newyorker.com from from 2011 to 2013.